It's a GAZ

According to my interpretation of the Cyrillic on the front of the bonnet, anyway.  It was outside a house where a pair of workers seemed to be doing something with a cement mixer and some sand (Extra).

I was wandering the spa town of Elena, in eastern Bulgaria, a little way south of the ancient capital, Veliko Tarnovo.  I was trying to capture some of the feeling of the place, much like much of the Bulgaria that we see in the countryside – a mix of well found houses, old and new, and those that are falling down.  Perhaps there is not enough money in the family to maintain the lovely old houses (lovely in my view, of course) or the family surviving an old couple who have died cannot agree on how to deal with the estate left.

Property is very cheap, by our standards: it seems that a complete house and garden is available for €40-50k, but the temptation to move to Bulgaria and buy a sizeable property is tempered by the understanding that you would have to deal with the country's and the countryside's problems.  Extreme poverty and alleged public corruption might spoil your pleasure at owning such a place.

We are staying in a guest house in Mindya, not far from Elena, owned by a youngish lady who has run it on her own until last year, when her parents came to live in it and run the business, while the owner started to run the bar/shop down the road about 200m, as well as studying psychology.  Some people have this energy . . .

The guest house is tremendous, with excellent meals available from a cheerful lady (mother) who speaks no English (except "Good Morning!") but who is cheerful, an excellent cook, and freely dispenses hugs.  It's a great place to be quiet, or to use as a base.